CLEAR CHANNEL Active Rocker KFNK(104.9 THE FUNKY MONKEY)/SEATTLE is rumored to be flipping to something called GEN X 104.9. The rumblings started when CLEAR CHANNEL registered the domain GenX1049.com and GenXSeattle.com, both of which lead to nothing on the web at this point.

Here is a recap of some select PPM market highlights from OCTOBER 2010, compiled by dmr for ALL ACCESS and powered by XTrends, radio’s #1 PPM and diary analysis tool.

SEATTLE-TACOMA October 2010: The Ladies Make STAR #1

FISHER RADIO Hot AC KPLZ (STAR 101.5) was #1 P6+ in SEATTLE-TACOMA in OCTOBER, buoyed by their only other #1 demo- a big one- W25-54. Tied for #2 P6+ were CBS RADIO Country KMPS and CLEAR CHANNEL Top 40/Rhythmic KUBE with 4.8.

True. KJR-FM is more classic hits than oldies, (or “greatest hits” as the oldies term has evolved). What is interesting to me is that even KJR-AM, in the 70’s, was more of a rock oriented top40, and rarely played R&B. (Stairway to Heaven was a nightime staple on KJR, circa mid-70’s.) I think they are still playing off this image. And yes, I understand today’s KJR has nothing to do with the old KJR-AM, but the branding is what brings them together.

SALEM COMMUNICATIONS’ INSPIRATION MEDIA, INC. is selling Regional Mexican KKMO-A (EL REY 1360)/TACOMA-SEATTLE to SEA-MAR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER for $2.7 million. A previous deal to sell the station for $3.69 million in 2008 was never consummated.

As would I but you would be surprised. Many vehicles made recently have AM stereo receivers in the dash plus lots of older cars with that capability are still on the road too. Also some of the HD Radio receivers decode C-QUAM stereo correctly as well such as certain versions of the Accurian, the Radioposidy-100, and the Sangean HDT-1.

If I was closer to Portland I would make an aircheck of KBPS 1450 on a totally stock Accurian. That does decode C-QUAM stereo but albeit in the Ibiquity analog mask bandwidth which is quite narrow and its only certain versions because I think it made some of the people at Motorola upset. Mine was made in September of 2006 and I personally confirmed it to have this capability by accident actually kind of a long story there. Its only certain HD Radios which have C-QUAM AM stereo decoding but they are out there.

There are a lot of radios out there still. Over time, that will diminish, but the cost to get it turned on is sunk, once done, having little impact.

A stream can then be stereo, if desired. Not a bad thing. And should the HD AM system improve, the stereo chain is done there too.

And the people who built HD Radios to decode it did the right thing. Those radios are simply better radios, delivering all quality modes to the listener, such as they are.

That’s why Ford always put that into their Premium units, which I’ve seen AMS in as late as 2002.

Honestly, that’s a simple line item on the list of things that can raise the value perception in the buyers mind, all of which contribute to reducing the added cost of the HD radio as a barrier to adoption.

That same dynamic works for the broadcaster too. They get to say “Stereo”, mention the stream, etc… That’s differentiated from the others, who don’t get to say that, and that’s always worth something.